HomeMy WebLinkAboutTranscript 12/08/2004 The following is an excerpt of the taped proceedings of the Planning Commission meeting of
December 8, 2004:
Schramm: "Mr. Chairman, before we move on from this item, I'd like to make an announcement.
Over the past few weeks, I've had the opportunity to participate in the public process of the
budget hearings, and I have listened repeatedly as members of the Planning Commission, the
Parks Commission, Port Angeles Downtown Association of over 200 members, private industry,
professional planners, municipal planners, private citizens, sports league advocates, all speak
against the reorganization that was tied into the budget hearings. During this time, only one
speaker spoke in favor of this, and that was the Mayor's brother-in-law. The City Council, with
the exception of Councilwoman Erickson and Councilman Braun showed their complete lack of
respect for all of these entities and the citizens of Port Angeles and acted against the
recommendation to withdraw the reorganization from the budget. There would have been no cost
or penalties had this matter been set aside and acted upon later after public input was given to it,
and the Mayor even had the audacity to imply that they were just being polite by listening to us in
the first place. They then tried to justify their action by saying that they were supporting the City
Manager, when we all know that he's only doing this because of intimidation from certain
members of the City Council. It is quite apparent that the Mayor and the Council believe they can
treat everyone with the same disrespect that they treated the P.U.D., the eastside Urban Growth
Area residents, and the Dry Creek Coalition and many others. It's unfortunate that during times
of political apathy that the Council turn their backs on an opportunity for public involvement in
the reorganization of the Parks and Planning Departments. What could have been a positive and
progressive experience was instead turned into a shameful exhibition. Councilwoman Rogers
tirade against the people who testified at the first public hearing was distasteful at best and
highlighted the lack of leadership and professionalism on her part. This Council definitely lacks
the integrity and depth that the previous Council exhibited many times over in their tenure, and
the citizens will pay the price for it. One must either get on board or get off the train, and my
choice is to get off the train. I have no confidence in this Council with the exception of
Councilwoman Erickson and Councilman Braun, and although I have great admiration for the
abilities of the City Manager, I understand the position this Council has placed him in. I'd like to
thank everyone that I've served with here for the last 3+years, and I'll miss you. Thank you. My
resignation is effective immediately.
Nutter: It's been delightful to work with you. We wish you well.
Schramm: Thank you, I'm sorry to see it have to end this way.
Nutter: Mr. Chairman, I would like to also make a statement at this time, and I would like to
express publicly thank you to Councilmen Erickson and Braun for their ability and tenacity to
stand for honesty and integrity in that it is certainly sad to see the City Council drop to such low
levels where they will not allow public involvement. And I give my condolences to the City
employees. I would certainly be one that would be wondering am I next and how are they going
to do it to me. I don't see how there can be much, in this case, a good attitude. I think it will
-1-
hurt all of the services that are provided to the citizens of the City and, again, in mentioning what
has been said at the City Council, this is just definitely the wrong road to go. And, with that, it
has been a pleasure and an honor to work on the Planning Commission. I thank you, and I am
resigning as of right now.
Philpott: Mr. Chairman, I, too, have been in these meetings with the City Council. I've been to a
meeting with the City Manager. I have not approved of what they're doing, the way that they've
treated us and others, and I told them at the meeting, the public meeting a couple of weeks ago
that this was going to happen. And so I, too, am submitting my resignation as of right now, and
I'm resigning from the Planning Commission. The City Council, City Manager, I've been here for
about 13 or 14 years with just a brief interlude until I came back again. You're losing a lot of
good people, you're making a lot of bad feelings with a lot of the City and staff. It's not going to
work for you, and tonight you are seeing the first acts of what is happening with your inflexibility
when you were told that this could, this reorganization could be broken away from the budget and
if we could have some time to talk about this. You were inflexible. I was also told it will all work
out by one of the City Council members. Yes, indeed, it is all working out. I hereby resign."
-2-